Chapter 4 - On Gurus or preceptors—temporal and spiritual

Preceptors are of two kinds, viz., (1) those who impart secular education, and (2) those who initiate their disciples into the mysteries of religious practices. Both of them are, in no way, inferior to parents. Man, after birth, is unable to get rid of the fear of death without the aid of these preceptors. Their foot-prints lead him out of darkness.

The spiritual preceptor must be calm, self-controlled, good-natured, thoroughly instructed in the ways of Dharma and the Sastras, full of the milk of human kindness and of a pleasing appearance. He must also be a householder and the father of a son. One’s own father, mother, maternal grand-father or an enemy should not be a spiritual guide. The son and brother of a Guru should be respected equally with him, even if they be younger in age than the disciple.

A man who differentiates between the gods and his Guru is sure to go to hell. In the presence of the Guru no other gods should be worshipped. A Guru, on the other hand, should treat a deserving disciple as his own self.

A Brahmana is the Guru of all the four castes and of women. He is fit to be a Guru on account of his superior knowledge even though he be younger in age than his disciple. A Guru’s wife is also a Guru.

Guru and tantra^[1] and mantras^[2] should be kept secret with great care. Their disclosure makes them useless.

A Brahmana has three births, viz, first when he comes forth from his mother’s womb; second, when he is invested with the sacred thread and initiated into the worship of Savitri, and taught the Gayatri; and, third, when he is initiated by the spiritual Guru. This last initiation is called Diksha. Women and Sudras are debarred from the second birth.

No distinction should be made between the gods, who are all equal. The man who does not obey this injunction goes to hell.

A woman’s chief Guru is her husband if he has not fallen from his Dharma. The husband should help the wife in the worship of gods. A loving wife is always happy. She should serve her husband in the same way as a son serves his parents.

A woman should always be well-covered and reserved, but this rule may be departed from when she is alone with her husband. She should display a cheerful countenance, and, even if suffering, distress of mind, should conceal it from her husband whom she should please with winsome gentleness and cheerfulness.

She should bring up her own children with care, and show kindness to those of others. She should be happy when her husband is happy and sad when he is sad. When her husband goes forth to a far country she should devote herself to the worship of gods and give up pursuits of pleasure.

A well-behaved and faithful wife should look after the household property, and the proper distribution of food among the family members.

A woman endowed with all the aforesaid qualities is worthy of being worshipped by all. The world receives support from her and she is a goddess thereof.

Sons lend beauty to the household, learned men to a meeting and modesty to a woman. An illiterate Brahmana is a dead man; a sacrifice concluded without making gifts to Brahmanas is useless; and a woman without modesty is a dead woman.

A woman without a husband is like a river without water, intelligence without faith, and a country without a king. Youth and embellishments are injurious to her.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The order of ceremonial rites prescribed by the Guru.

[2]:

A formula of prayer sacred to the deity whose worship the Guru has enjoined upon the disciple.